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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Rebecca Robinson
The Wine & Food Foundation of Texas
512-327-7555 or 512-350-4621
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21st ANNUAL RARE & FINE WINE AUCTION PULLS IN OVER $315,000 FOR CHARITY
Austin, Texas – April 10, 2006 – The Wine & Food Foundation of Texas raised a whopping $315,000.00 at the 21st annual Rare & Fine Wine Auction on Saturday, April 8 at the Four Seasons Hotel in Austin. This figure marks a nearly $30,000.00 increase over last year’s record-breaking total and benchmarks the Auction’s remarkable growth when compared to the $3,500.00 raised at the inaugural event in 1986.
Now one of the largest and most prestigious wine auctions in the Southwest, the Rare & Fine Wine Auction has raised more than $1.5 million to date. The proceeds benefit the Foundation’s mission of supporting education and research in the culinary and viticulture arts. A portion of the proceeds also supports Austin’s public television station KLRU-TV.
A record number of over 125 lots were on the block this year, gathered from around the world by a 30-member committee of industry professionals and collectors. Offered were such rare finds as a collection of Wine Spectator’s Top Ten Wines of 2005 (all rated 95+), which sold for $4,200.00; a 1995 Magnum of Château Haut Brion, garnering $1,250.00; a collection of 1996 Big Boss Reds including 12 bottles of 90+ rated California wines ripe and ready to drink, collected by the Auction Committee which collected $3,100.00. The Committee also assembled an incredibly rare lot of 1990 Bordeaux Classified First Growths which experts have classified as some of the ‘greatest wines in the world’, that nabbed $5,700.00.
Also up for bid was an instant wine cellar by KitchenAid Architect Series stocked with 48 carefully selected bottles of 90+ rated wines carefully selected by Foundation President and Sommelier, Michael Vilim, which brought in $4,200.00. Caymus Vineyards, a longtime friend of the Auction, donated a 2003 Salmanazar (equal to a case of .750 liter bottles) of Caymus Special Selection Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley (rated 94 by Robert Parker), specially bottled for the Auction, that brought in $5,500.00.
Unique travel lots included an exclusive trip for eight guests to Kendall Jackson’s Wine Center & Gardens in Santa Rosa, California. Soaring to a winning bid of $10,000.00, the lot included a viewing party of the 2007 Academy Awards, airfare, accommodations and a Salmanazar (9L) of Kendall Jackson Highland Estates Hawkeye Mountain Cabernet Sauvignon in a hand-painted bottle.
The Auction also featured a private party for 200 guests in the legendary Austin City Limits Studios complete with Los Cardos wine from Argentina, catering by Castle Hill Café and entertainment provided by Columbian band Groupo Fantasma, which pulled in $8,000.00.
This year’s Auction was underwritten by Russell Korman Fine Jewelry & Watches, upscale Balinese jewelry-designer John Hardy and Breitling watches, who also donated auction lots. Additionally, Korman Jewelers sponsored the fanfare delivery of Dom Perignon champagne to guests whose winning bids were double or more of the market value of the lot listed in the auction catalog. Two lucky guests were also treated to $250 John Hardy/Russell Korman gift certificates.
“ The success of this year’s auction is a result of a true collaborative effort and labor of love,” said Michael Vilim, Auction co-chair and Foundation president. “Our auction committee and volunteers are fiercely proud of sharing a common mission that reaches across industry, community and personal lives. Education in wine and food makes for healthier bodies, richer lives and better communities in which to live and grow. It’s important work and we’re proud of the support by our sponsors, volunteers and the community.”
Austin’s veteran auctioneers; Doyle Fellers, Gene Fondren, Howard Chalmers and Michael Hanley took turns at the podium throughout the evening.
Guests were treated to a champagne reception upon arrival in addition to a complimentary tequila bar. Wine was served by guest sommeliers from the Four Seasons Hotel and Pappas Brothers in Dallas, Whole Foods Market, Mirabelle and Prestige, all in Austin. A stunning buffet was served by Executive Chef Elmar Prambs of the Four Seasons Hotel, Austin.
To learn more about the Foundation, please visit www.winefoodfoundation.org, call 512-327-7555 or contact Executive Director Rebecca Robinson at
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About The Foundation
The Wine & Food Foundation of Texas is a public charity dedicated to recognizing and developing creativity, professionalism and state-of-the-science research in all areas of the culinary and viticulture arts. To achieve this mission, the Foundation provides grants, scholarships and programs for education in wine and food. www.winefoodfoundation.org
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